Wigan, Warrington & St Helens issue 58

WIGAN, WARRINGTON & ST HELENS EDITION 58

MARCH - MAY 2022

Elton John

THE ROCKET MAN ROCKS ON

Time Travel in Malta FROM SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR

Swing in Spring

AT HESKIN HALL SHOPPING VILLAGE

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Matt Tebbutt

WEEKEND RECIPES

Self-drive & coach inclusive breaks

GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS

£174

from

per person

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you..

Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Robinsons’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 26 luxury Mercedes coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.

If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.

Request your brochure now!

Every break includes: Return coach travel (self-drive option available)

Comfy en suite accommodation

Breakfast & 3-course evening meal

Live nightly entertainment*

Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice We are proud to announce that five of our group – Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, County – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2021.

Isle of Wight

Torquay

Bournemouth

Llandudno

Newquay

Blackpool

Lake District

Scarborough

Eastbourne

Weymouth

Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.

Price includes return coach travel from:

Leyland, Chorley, Coppull, Standish, Wigan, Ashton in Makerfield, Newton le Willows, Warrington, Lymm Services.

All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).

DATE

HOTEL

DAYS

PRICE

DATE

HOTEL

APRIL

DAYS

PRICE

JUNE

08

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

5

£204

08

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

£219

09

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£174

09

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

£224

10

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

£179

13

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

£279

13

Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne

5

£204

22

Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough

5

£284

24

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£239

MAY 05

Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough

5

£224

07

Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne

5

£224

09

County Hotel – Lakes District

5

£249

12

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

£244

17

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

5

£209

18

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

£194

19

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£204

22

Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay

5

£214

28

Daish’s Blackpool Hotel – Blackpool

5

£214

Call - 01254 889900

Quote - 50PlusWW

or visit daishs.com

facebook.com/robinsonsholidays1 Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy.

Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2021. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 30th March 2022

10 fabulous locations, 12 great hotels.

Bournemouth

Llandudno

Newquay

Weymouth

Weymouth

Eastbourne

Bournemouth Sands

Somerset Hotel

Barrowfield Hotel

Hotel Prince Regent

Russell Hotel

Imperial Hotel

Isle of Wight

Scarborough

Torquay

Torquay

Blackpool

Lake District

Daish’s Hotel

Esplanade Hotel

Devonshire Hotel

Abbey Lawn Hotel

Daish’s Blackpool Hotel

County Hotel

Call 01254 889900 or visit daishs.com

facebook.com/robinsonsholidays1

@RobinsonsHolida

CONTENTS | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE 2-3

DAISH’S HOLIDAYS Self drive & coach inclusive breaks

6-7

TWITTERING ON

By Angela Kelly

10-11

TRAVEL Time travel in Malta with Cathy Bartrop

16-17

WHAT’S ON AT THE WILLIAMSON Activities and collections for all to enjoy

20-21

HOME Streamlining your home in 2022

26-27

GARDEN Preparing your garden for Spring

Elton John THE ROCKET MAN ROCKS ON

Bridgeman House 77 Bridgeman Street | Bolton | BL3 6BY. Sales Enquiries : T: (01204) 238180 E: artwork@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

RAVE ON

Food BBC TV’S SATURDAY KITCHEN MATT TEBBUTT SHARES HIS RECIPES

Spring STEVE HARLEY ACOUSTIC BAND

DESPERATE SCOUSEWIVES 3 HERMAN’S HERMITS

RAVE ON – THE RISE OF ROCK & ROLL Thursday 3 March DESPERATE SCOUSEWIVES 3 Thursday 24 & Friday 25 March STEVE HARLEY ACOUSTIC BAND Saturday 26 March ABBA REUNION TRIBUTE SHOW Sunday 27 March HERMAN’S HERMITS Tuesday 29 March COUNT ARTHUR STRONG : AND THIS IS ME Wednesday 30 March REVENGE Monday 4 April EXCITING SCIENCE Tuesday 5 April THE LITTLE MIX SHOW Wednesday 6 April THE WIZARD OF OZ Monday 11 - Wednesday 13 April SIMON BRODKIN: TROUBLEMAKER Thursday 14 April THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS Saturday 16 April AN EVENING WITH CRISSY ROCK &

FRIENDS

Monday 25 April JEREMY VINE We want you to feel confident returning to the Brindley Theatre and full Covid safety Friday 29 April measures will be in place for your visit. Visit our website for all shows and venue information DOM JOLY’S HOLIDAY SNAPS Wednesday 11 May FIREMAN SAM Tuesday 30 August

B O X O F F I C E : 01 51 9 07 8 3 6 0 W W W. T H E B R I N D L E Y. O R G . U K

4

Swing into Spring ...

COACHES WELCOME

Shop, Eat & Relax

Over 40 Boutique Shops All Under One Roof Gifts, Clothing, Homeware, Art, Toys, Jewellery, Butchers, Deli, Fruit & Veg, Furniture, Pottery Studio, Music Shop, Occasion Cakes & Cake Decorating Supplies, Home Decor, Stoves & so much more!

The Two Birds Tea Room makes the perfect stop for lunch or a snack!

Homemade Sandwiches, Toasties, Soup, Salads, Cake, Coffee, Wine & Beer, Daily Specials, Afternoon Teas & More.

FREE PARKING & FREE ENTRY

We look forward to seeing you!

OPENING TIMES Mon - Closed Tue - Sat 10am - 5pm Sun 10.30am - 4.30pm Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm Wood Lane

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Heskin

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Chorley

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PR7 5PA

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T: 01257 451464

www.heskinhallshoppingvillage.co.uk

TWITTERING ON

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

TWITTERING ON

BY ANGELA KELLY

Now, Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, is urging parents to “talk early and talk often” in an ageappropriate way.

She wants children better prepared for this dark side of the online world. She also hopes it will make youngsters feel easier about raising difficult issues going forward.

That message has not come as a result of an adult focus group second-guessing modern children’s dilemmas but from the Everyone’s Invited movement which allowed youngsters to air their views.

Sales’ bargains that sometimes aren’t SALES are great, aren’t they? The possibility of a bargain or your longed for outfit suddenly marked down to bargain levels is a thrill.

We can all get some amazing deals but there is a danger to grab at items in stores and believe you’ve got a real treasure – only for things to prove a little different.

My friend Carol thought she’d hit the jackpot when she saw a lovely little sports’ skirt, ideal for playing badminton. Its price was very attractive so she quickly bought it and went home a happy shopper.

While previously many of us would have suggested waiting until children become teenagers before broaching this one, Rachel de Souza wants parents to begin the conversation much earlier.

Using the advice from teens and young adults based on what they wish their parents had known, she has produced a guide to help adults with this possibly tricky conversation.

She doesn’t want this to happen all at once, though, but over time and in line with their developing maturity.

However, when she tried it on later, she found she could hardly get it over her hips. So, reluctantly, she returned to the store the next day with the item.

“My advice to parents and carers is to create the culture before the crisis,” she explained to a national newspaper. “Children have told us they want their mums and dads to create a safe, judgement-free space for them to talk about these issues.”

“I loved this skirt, but I can’t get it on,” she told the saleswoman.

“I’m not surprised, madam,” was the reply. “This is a boob tube so you’re at the wrong end.”

She’s right. It’s definitely better to tackle this thorny subject before there’s a problem and establish a channel of communication that allows children to talk to parents.

Exit Carol from the shop, red-faced and now re-thinking her sales’ strategy.

Singer Billie Eilish revealed only recently the negative impact that watching pornography from an early age had on her. She started at 11 and it gave her nightmares and made subsequent dating difficult.

Parents need to address porn children watch IT’S a sad reflection of the times that parents are being urged to talk to children as young as nine about online porn.

Yet, this is sensible advice given the avalanche of porn available today on all forms of technology, including our children’s mobile phones and iPads.

There has been concern for some time about the ease of access for children often browsing the internet unsupervised and the possible damage from the images they see.

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Frighteningly, this revealed wide-spread sexual harassment and abuse in schools, suggesting that online porn can influence reallife behaviour and attitudes when it comes to gender roles, sex and consent.

There is a huge gap between what parents think happens and their own children’s reality. While only a quarter of parents believe their child has viewed pornography online the truth is that more than half of all 11 to 13 year-olds have.

This is a new world to all of us who grew up without smartphones but it’s one that adults urgently need to appreciate.

Taking action now is the only way to protect our children properly and help them come to terms with this unsavoury area of life.

together information about him from Facebook and then took him to court. The result was £6,000 in compensation plus £1,545 costs.

While prompting a small cheer from many other businesses who have been victims of trolls, the case is also a great step forward for fairness.

Honest criticism should be generally welcome and offer any business the chance to improve. In fact, how else would they know someone had an unhappy experience rather than just voting with their feet?

Malicious criticism, however, is totally unacceptable. It can ruin reputations and discourage potential customers and, obviously, that can be the motivation of some posters.

Rushing into online reviews can be unfair – and dangerous!

BUSINESSES can live or die by online reviews these days so rushing to TripAdvisor to record your opinion always needs careful consideration.

Unfortunately, not everyone is so thoughtful - or honest - in this and the damage to venues in the hospitality industry in particular can be huge.

Going onto TripAdvisor and other sites is commonplace for many of us these days. We want to share our experiences with others, to praise those that deserve it and alert the public to potentially negative experiences.

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, there is a pressing need for balance.

Steve Hoddy, the owner of Blackpool restaurant The Bispham Kitchen had enough after one TripAdvisor poster made a series of derogatory online statements about his venue.

If you go somewhere that makes Fawlty Towers look like a Michelin starred establishment, it’s reasonable to say what went wrong. Equally, if you get exceptional service, delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s right to share this, too.

The false and malicious reviews – including claims like “the owner stares at you weirdly” and that customers had been made ill – prompted him to turn detective and track down his troll.

Anyone who has been in business knows that dealing with the public means constantly treading a fine line. So it’s completely wrong to hurl unfounded anonymous criticism out into the ether.

Unhappily for this particular individual, Mr Hoddy has two law degrees and admirable determination. Over three years, he pieced

And, as this troll found, it can also come back to bite you in the rear.

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and most notably so in the past decade. Completed in 2015, the City Gate Project was a dramatic rethinking of the entrance to the city, conceived by Italian architect, Renzo Piano. It took many years of wrangling and the injection of some serious EU funding to finally make it happen but, it really has given the city a new lease of life.

City Gates

Time travel in Malta – Cathy Bartrop returns to her childhood holiday island

I was 9 yrs old in 1970 when my Dad, on his commute home from London, saw a small ad in the Evening Standard to buy an off plan, 2 bedroom holiday flat in Malta for an unmissable bargain price.

Within weeks he was off on an inspection flight to view the property (still a building site) in the south coast village of Birzebuggia that, for my teenage years, was to become our family holiday bolthole in the sun. At the opposite end of the island to the better known tourist resorts of Sliema and St Julians, there wasn't a whole lot going on in sleepy Birzebuggia but I have cherished memories of long, sun drenched days largely spent swimming off the rocks at St Peters Pool and snorkelling in the crystal clear waters. As distractions, we occasionally ventured in to Valletta or Sliema for some shopping, had firework filled evenings at the many village Festas and never missed a trip to the Ta Qali craft village but, back then, my holiday focus was clear... call me shallow but, for my sister and me, our sole holiday objective was to develop the deepest possible tan to show off when we got home. SPF was unheard of - we would rub liberal amounts of olive oil into our skin and literally fry ourselves to a crisp.

I still love the heat but now, age 60, I finally know better and my devotion to sunbathing is over! So I was thrilled to be invited back as a guest of Visit Malta in September this year on a filming trip with a very different focus ... to take a look at what else Malta has to offer, beyond the obvious appeal of sun and sea. Spoiler alert...it was something of a revelation.

I began my time travel in Valletta. My memories of the capital are of a noisy, chaotic place where it was nigh on impossible to park and, to my young mind, full of boring, dusty looking old buildings. Clearly I was blind to its charms back then so was blown away by what this vibrant capital, the smallest in the EU, now offers. No surprise that the city has seen many changes over the past 50 years but physically

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The old bus station is gone and the grand fountain, once swallowed up amid the chaos of traffic, has been restored to its original glory as the focal point of a wide piazza. This marks the pedestrianised route in to the city, following a bridge across the bastion walls leading to an inviting boulevard flanked by the limestone clad, angular shapes of the new Parliament building, the centrepiece of Piano's vision. Its smooth lines broken by intriguing, irregular blocks of 'eye-lid' openings in the stone.

The design caused much controversy both for its construction cost and the visual concept. Locals, not without a hint of sarcasm, call it the 'cheese grater'. Modern design can often be divisive but, personally, I love the way it contrasts, yet compliments, the surrounding buildings. Adjacent to it, rising from the ruins of what was once the Royal Opera House (destroyed by Stuka dive bombers during WWII and subsequently used as a car park), there is now a magnificent open air theatre, pinned in place by the original Corinthian columns of the Opera House. And opposite, a row of beautiful, traditional buildings with the Malta's characteristic painted balconies. Collectively, these buildings set the tone for exploration of a city famed for multi-layered history but with its sights very much set on the future.

Parliament House Once they had repelled the invasion of the Turks in 1565, for the next 268 years under the Knights of St John, the money rolled in and Valletta was built within the safety of its fortified walls to rival other grand European capitals. The legacy is a city literally stuffed with fine Baroque buildings and prestigious palaces.

Many of these buildings have now been converted for more modern purposes, in particular, as boutique hotels and restaurants. I stayed at the Domus Zamitello hotel, a charming, classic style renovation of a 17th century Palazzo. It has the most fabulous location, with a terrace bar overlooking the theatre and Parliament House.

Other renovations have created public spaces - MUZA is a great example, the new home of the national collection of Fine Arts. The 500 year old building was renovated as part of Valletta's 2018 City of Culture programme and houses a fascinating collection. But aside from the art, pleasingly, by using modern techniques like installing photo voltaic panels and intelligent LED lighting, the building is also now carbon neutral.

Not everything has been modernised though, there are plenty of originals for history enthusiasts to relish. Casa Rocca Piccola for instance, a 16th century noble house which remains to this day a family home. Open to the public, it's well worth taking a tour. Like many buildings in the city it's relatively plain outside but, inside, you discover a maze of rooms on several floors centred around a shady courtyard garden. Below ground, you can also visit the bomb shelters where the residents would seek shelter from the relentless bombing raids the island suffered in World War II.You may well bump into the house's current custodian and resident, Nicolas, the 9th Marquis de Piro, a delightful octogenarian who clearly loves to meet visitors. He explained that the house was named after its first owner Don Pietro La Rocca, Admiral of the Order of St John in the league of Italy. As the Navy grew, so did the Admiral's status and so he built a bigger house, Casa Rocca Grande - making this one 'Piccola'. It certainly isn't small though and is packed to the gunnels with all manner of antiques, paintings, china, silverware and books collected by the De Piro generations since they took over the house in the late 18th Century. An original and fascinating slice of Maltese island history and local artistic endeavours.

standing temple in the world and, for that fact alone, really is a site to behold. The intrigue of the Neolithic period is that so little is certain. Guesswork is involved to answer the many ‘How’, ‘Why’, ‘What’ questions that instantly spring to mind. The fun of it is that, to some extent, you can make up your own theories, who is say they are wrong?!

Aside from Ggantija, Gozo too has come on in leaps and bounds from the sleepy island that I recall. Its smaller, quieter than Malta for sure but has its own, very distinct appeal. Now accessible via a 45 minute fast ferry from Valletta, its very easy these days to see the best of both.

I was fortunate enough to spend a good part of my day on Gozo in the company of local chef and restauranteur, Philip Spiteri. Time well spent as we toured around the island on a ‘shopping’ trip, gathering the pick of local produce. After five months of summer heat, the island looked parched but, when you are with someone like Philip who knows every inch of it, there is flavourful local produce to be found all year round...gorgeous fresh veg picked in a lush green valley irrigated by a natural water source, caper berries fresh from the tree for pickling, delicate creamy rounds of soft cheese, prickly pears carefully collected from their spiky bushes and of course, the catch of the day from the fish market, in this case, glorious blue-hued Lampuki and live clams. Back in the kitchen at his restaurant Ta’Philip, we saw the ingredients simply, yet oh so skilfully bought together to create a memorable and delicious Maltese feast.

Old or new, every building tells a story and there are plenty of museums to help unpeel the city's many layers of history, whether your interest lies in the Knights of Malta, the World Wars or Maritime history. Or to time travel back even further, the Museum of Archaeology is a real gem. The volume of Neolithic sites across Malta and Gozo is unparalleled in Europe and they include seven UNESCO World Heritage listed megalithic temples.Yet another aspect of this fascinating country that passed me by in my teens but which I now find genuinely mesmerising. If you can, plan on visiting the museum ahead of the sites. Most of the original artefacts found in the temples when they were excavated in the 1920s are displayed here and you will get the context and detail that will make subsequent site visits way more meaningful.

At only 17 by 9 miles, nowhere is far to drive on Malta so beyond the capital accessing the Neolithic sites is easy.You can of course Philip and his Lampuki pie go by road but one of the nicest ways to explore is to incorporate Farm to table dining is always going to be a winner in my book. But them as part of a hike. The dual megalithic temples of Hagar Qim the idea of using the best locally sourced produce also permeates and Mnajdra for example sit within 500 metres of each other and all levels of gastronomy and Malta has another trump card - the can be explored on a trail that takes you across the cliff tops from emergence of a sophisticated fine dining scene. The island received Dingli (at 250m, the highest point on Malta) along the coast, around the Michelin seal of approval with the publication of the Michelin the temples and on to the Blue Grotto. Our attempt at the hike was Guide to Malta in 2020. The new 2021 edition unfortunately curtailed by a heavy downpour lists 5 one star restaurants and an additional 26 and, after 5 months of baking summer heat, the Fact Box: rated as ‘Bib’ and ‘Plate’ recommended. For landscape was looking very parched indeed.

For general information on such a small island that is mightily impressive.

However, the idea of walking the route in Malta go to As I tucked in to a divine and complex six Spring with a green, flower filled landscape and course tasting menu under star filled skies at the www.visitmalta.com/en. spectacular sea views is very tempting.

Michelin star ION in Valletta (with panoramic For further details on holidays Ggantija views of the Grand Harbour) I couldn’t help but to Malta, to receive a quote or To see the mother of all the temples we headed smile at the memory of my childhood self for to book your holiday call to Gozo to visit Ggantija. As the name implies, whom the gastronomic holiday highlight would 0800 412 5678 quite literally a construction of gigantic stone. have been a trip to the Wimpey in Sliema for a Dating back to 3700 BC it is the oldest free Knickerbocker glory!

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

THE ROCKET MAN ROCKS ON NOT many British singers can claim a box-office smash hit film about their lives and No.1 hits in the 1980s, ‘90s and 2000s but Elton John can.

Sir Elton Hercules John, to give him his full name (although he was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight), is that rarity in the pop music world: a star who has endured and whose fan base traverses all ages and types.

He’s now 74, still successful, still productive and happy with the person he acknowledges he is. But it wasn’t always that way.

As anyone who has seen his autobiographical film Rocket Man knows, as a youngster he was not always happy with who he was and the life he led.

Music probably saved him so it’s no surprise to learn that he started playing the piano at the age of four. He was raised in Pinner in London and both his parents were interested in music.

As a result, they exposed young Reggie to the popular singers of the day. When he first heard rock ‘n roll, he was hooked.

He had regular piano lessons and music swiftly became the most important force in his life. He was educated locally and, at the age of 15 was hired as a pianist at a nearby pub. At 17, he left school and his A level studies for a career in music.

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He and some friends started a band called Bluesology which proved successful, backing touring American soul and R & B musicians like the Isley Brothers. In 1966, the band became singer Long John Baldry’s supporting band.

In 1967, Reggie answered an advert in the New Musical Express

by Liberty Records looking for new talent. He was given some lyrics by Bernie Taupin, who had also answered the advert, and so began a fruitful partnership that resulted in countless hit songs.

Six months later, Reggie changed his name to Elton John and the duo joined Dick James’s DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968. Over the next two years, they wrote material for artists including Lulu and Roger Cook.

Unlike most collaborations, Bernie would write a batch of lyrics and give it to Elton to provide the music, resulting in many haunting, memorable songs.

For their second album, thanks in no small way to Elton’s rich falsetto voice, they created Your Song which reached No.7 in the UK singles’ chart and No.8 in the US. The album named Elton John reached No.4 in the US Billboard 200 and No.5 in the UK albums’ chart.

Elton’s first American concert - at the Troubador Club in Los Angeles in August, 1970 - was a great success and his next album Tumbleweed Connection that year reached No.2 in the UK and No.5 in the US. Elton and Bernie then wrote the soundrack to the 1971 film Friends followed by the album Madman Across the Water, which again did well. This included hit songs Levon and Tiny Dancer and this time heralded a string of hit albums on both sides of the water.

The album Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player came out at the start of 1973 and reached No.1 in both the UK and the US. This produced hits Crocodile Rock and Daniel, topping the charts in both countries.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road followed in 1973 and contained the US No.1 single Bennie and the Jets, along with the title song, plus Candle in the Wind and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.

Elton formed his own company, The Rocket Record Company and signed acts including Neil Sedaka and Kiki Dee. Instead of releasing his own songs through the company, though, he signed an $8 million contract with MCA and in 1974 they released Elton John’s Greatest Hits.

In 1975, he was asked by The Who to take part in the film adaptation of the rock opera Tommy and to perform Pinball Wizard, which also became a UK chart favourite.

By now, Elton was becoming known for his flambouyant costumes and fantastic specs as much for his music. Live audiences loved him, turning up in their thousands to see him perform.

The ‘70s were undoubtedly Elton’s most commercially successful period but in 1977, he announced that he was retiring from performing and Bernie Taupin began collaborating with other people.

He continued recording, however, and his next album included hit singles Part-time Love and Song for Guy. His 1983 album Too Low for Zero featured I’m Still Standing and I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. And in 1990, he had a UK No.1 hit single with Sacrifice.

He has collaborated on appearances and records with some of music’s most famous names including John Lennon, George Michael, opera star Luciano Pavoretti, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran.

In 1997, he asked Bernie Taupin to revise the lyrics of their 1973 song Candle in the Wind to honour Princess Diana and Elton gave a poignant performance at her Westminister Abbey funeral.

The song became the fastest and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually selling more than 33 million copies globally.

Elton has also created music for hit musicals including The Lion King in 1997 and Billy Elliott in 2005. In 2003, he capitalised on

his popularity in America by agreeing to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegan Strip. He shared performances throughout the year with Celine Dion – while one performed the other rested.

In 2019, the film Rocket Man about his life answered many questions around his sexuality and won the singer many new fans.

He has received all kinds of accolades and awards throughout his career – from a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975 to a CBE in 1996 and a knighthood in 1998 for his services to music and fundraising for AIDS charities.

He registered his civil partnership with long-term partner David Furnish in 2005 and upgraded their relationship to marriage in 2014. The couple have two sons.

Elton has had his share of health problems over the years but today remains a sprightly entertainer whose popularity has never really waned.

As he quite rightly says:

“An overview of my career is usually … glasses …homosexuality …Watford Football Club … tantrums … flowers. But the music was pretty phenomenal, you know.”

• Elton John’s latest UK tour starts in June, 2022.

For details go to https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/elton-john-tickets/artist/735394 13

Ian Waite & Vincent Simone…

The Ballroom Boys - ACT TWO! Strictly stars waltz into 2022 with UK and Ireland Tour…

continued to be involved with the show in different roles - Ian was a regular on It Takes Two for ten years with his ‘Waite’s Warm-Up’ section until announcing in May 2021 that he would be stepping away from the show and Vincent regularly choreographs the Argentine Tango routines that are seen on the main programme.

The fabulous Strictly Come Dancing stars promise another wonderful evening, with beautiful costumes, gorgeous lighting and world-class routines. If you enjoyed The Ballroom Boys, then make sure you don’t miss the hilarious dancing duo when they bring you…ACT TWO!

Strictly Come Dancing double act, Ian Waite and Vincent Simone, continue their 5 star rated tour ACT TWO in 2022.

The tour follows on from Waite and Simone’s first 5 star offering as a dancing duo back in 2019, with more old-school variety glamour, dance, comedy and song! ***** IT WAS OVER TOO SOON… Cambs Times^ ACT TWO, which began touring in Autumn 2021, picks up again in April 2022 after a short break to continue wowing audiences.

Vincent will introduce his new leading lady, Despina Violari, a world class Argentine Tango and Salsa specialist, while Ian’s leading lady, the phenomenal Faye Huddleston of Burn the Floor and Rip It Up fame, returns along with West End vocalist Amelia Adams. ***** A FULL HOUSE OF 10’s Shropshire Star^ Ian says of the new show “Myself and Vince joined up for the 2019 tour because we wanted to do something completely different to all the other Strictly tours. We never imagined that it would be so popular, the audiences loved it, which is amazing! So we thought, why not do it again?”

Vincent adds, “I’m so happy to be performing with Ian again.

We have loved getting back on the road and entertaining audiences. And I’m sure they have missed me a lot!! We are really overwhelmed with all the support we saw for the first leg of Act Two in the autumn.” ***** DAZZLED THE AUDIENCE Nantwich News^ Having both been professional dancers for the hit BBC show for a number of years, with their partners including Zoe Ball, Penny Lancaster, Rachel Stevens, and Louisa Lytton, Ian and Vincent ^Reviews from the 2021 Autumn leg of Act Two 14

For the latest up to date information about the new dates head to www.theballroomboys.com Tickets can be booked directly through the theatres or at www.theballroomboys.com There are also a limited number of VIP Meet and Greet tickets available at each venue.

Photo credits: Image 1st London

Box office: theatkinson.co.uk 01704 533 333 (Booking fees apply)

The Sefton Open

The Atkinson Lord Street Southport PR8 1DB

A chance to discover the wealth of artistic talent across Sefton, with an open exhibition in The Atkinson galleries where anyone who lives or works in the borough can submit work.

Artwork hand in day: 29 March 2022

9 April – 21 May 2022

Image: Lisa Langan, Leopard Print Lunch

LEISURE | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Williamson Art Gallery & Museum We’re opening up more of our gallery spaces to bring able to bring you both curated displays of works from our collections, and temporary exhibitions by fabulous artists, with a programme that this summer includes Facing the Subject: Portraits from the Williamson Collection, and The Wonderful World of Ladybird Books Artists. We’re also creating online exhibitions of some of the most-loved items in our collections so that you can explore your favourite pieces from home.

Our new programme of curator talks is another way for you The Williamson is Open!

to discover more about the secrets of our collections from our All displays drawn from the gallery’s own collection. fantastic curatorial team.

The Della Robia Gallery

Activities For All Are you looking to learn a new skill? Or perhaps try something creative alongside other people? We host classes and courses across a range of disciplines.

Right in the heart of Birkenhead you’ll find a world-class art gallery, museum, and community hub.

Or if you’re looking for something for the whole family to get involved in, our monthly Children’s Art workshops are always hugely popular.

The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum is home to wide-ranging permanent collections which include painting, sculpture, furniture, prints, and decorative arts. We’re proud to hold the largest public collection of Della Robbia pottery in the UK – Birkenhead’s own contribution to the Arts & Crafts movement.

Our ship models and artefacts celebrate the region’s rich maritime history.

Visit our website to find out the latest information about what’s on.

Fancy a stop for refreshment? Our café serves hot drinks and William T Rawlinson Your Williamson – aopen. selection light bites whenever we’re made from the favourites

(1912-1993) – Liverpool-born

printmaker of outstanding postedworking on social We’re always onmedia ways during to help more people discover our quality.

2020. venue and engage with what we have to offer. Here’s just a few of the things for you toMorning enjoy: at (illustration: Fledgling owls, (illustration: Lamorna Cove, SJ Lamorna Birch – detail)

William T Rawlinson)

Collections We have over 15,000 objects in the museum, acquired over more Please note new temporary than a century.

Late Night Fridays Every Friday (except bank holidays) we’re open until 9pm.

The Great Outdoors – a Visitorsofhave celebration whatloved freshbeing air able to spend more time exploring our means to us all. and taking in the quite different evening atmosphere. exhibitions (illustration: the orchard, RG late serving delicious meals to satisfy Our caféInstays open until Hinchliffe – detail)

every taste. And in the summer months there’ll be live music performances too, so you can really make a night of it!

opening times Wednesday – Saturday 12.00 – 5.00

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Birkenhead, SlateySlatey Road, Road, Birkenhead, CH43 CH43 4UE 4UE Slatey Road, Birkenhead, CH43 0151 666 4UE 3537 0151 666 3537 0151 666 3537 www.williamsonartgallery.org www.williamsonartgallery.org www.williamsonartgallery.org West’s finest art collections, right Open Wednesday to Saturday 12noon until 5pmin

Discover one of the North the heart of Birkenhead. artshop, supply shop, book shop Cafe, artCafe, supply book shop and gift and shopgift shop Cafe, Oxton Books –independent newcraftspeople and book second-hand books – Home to painting, sculpture, furniture, prints, Workshops with craftspeople artists Workshops with independent and artists Cafe, art supply shop,decorative shop andand giftarts, shop ship models and the UK’s Adult artshop classes and drop inartfamily art sessions Adult art classes and drop in family sessions and gift including locally-made crafts Workshops with independent craftspeople and artists largest collection of stunning, locally-produced Della Free park and free wifi Robbia pottery.

Free cardrop park and free wifi Free carincar park and free wifi Adult art classes and family art sessions Free car park and free wifi Enjoy some great food and drinks in our café, and visit our website to find out about our events and workshops.

Free entry, free parking available on site Williamson Art Gallery DPS.indd 2

20/07/2021 06:58

Opening hours: 10.30am-5pm Wednesday-Thursday | 10:30am – 9pm Friday | 10am-4.30pm Saturday Address: Slatey Road, Birkenhead, CH43 4UE Phone: 0151 666 3537 | Website: williamsonartgallery.org

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What’s on at the Williamson?

Stephen Dixon: Maiolica and Migration 1st April – 18th June Dixon’s new body of work draws attention to the ongoing catastrophe of forced migration.

Dixon was the 2021 winner of AWARD at the British Ceramics Biennial for his work, ‘Transient: The Ship of Dreams and Nightmares’.

Williamson Open 2022 30th March – 30th April This hugely popular exhibition reflects part of the current active visual arts scene in Wirral.

Facing the Subject: Portraits from the Williamson Collection 6th April – 18th June Get to know some of the people whose portraits appear in the Williamson collections. This new exhibition will feature artworks – in paint, on paper, in sculpture and ceramics – that capture the likenesses and personalities of a wide All displays drawn range of people from all walks of life.

The Willi

The Williamson is Open!

fro

lays drawn from the gallery’s own collection.

Wirral Met Degree Show 6th – 21st May Wirral Met have been holding the Degree Show for BA Illustration with Animation, BA Fine Art and BA level 6 Photography at the Williamson for over twenty-five years. This year’s show carries on this tradition of celebrating the latest emerging talent from the region

n – a selection avourites l media during

William T Rawlinson (1912-1993) – Liverpool-born printmaker of outstanding quality.

ning at SJ Lamorna

(illustration: Fledgling owls, William T Rawlinson)

Your Williamson – a selection made from the favourites posted on social media during 2020.

Willia (1912 printm quali

(illustration: Morning at Lamorna Cove, SJ Lamorna Birch – detail)

(illust Willia

The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists 29th June – 9th September

The Great Outdoors – a celebration of what fresh air means to us all.

Please note new family-friendly exhibition exploring the work of the Ladybird illustrators Wednesday who contributed to the extraordinary success of the companyWilliamson during its “golden Williamson Open Della Open Della Robbia C Williamson Open Della years” of 1940 to 1975.

(illustration: In the orchard, RG Hinchliffe – detail) A colourful,

Please note new temporary opening times Wednesday – Saturday 12.00 – 5.00

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of Oxton people of Oxton Portraits ofPortraits people of Portraits of people of Oxton

Birkenhead, SlateySlatey Road, Road, Birkenhead, CH43 CH43 4UE 4UE Slatey Road, Birkenhead, CH43 0151 666 4UE 3537 0151 666 3537 0151 666 3537 www.williamsonartgallery.org www.williamsonartgallery.org

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LEISURE | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

870 years of history at Birkenhead Priory

Birkenhead Priory

Birkenhead Priory is the oldest building on Merseyside. Did you know that it was the monks who founded the site who first established the famous “Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey”?

The Priory is a fantastic place to explore all year round, but spring and summer are the ideal seasons to make your visit a full day out.

Birkenhead Priory is the perfect spot for enjoying the unparalleled views of the Mersey – across to Liverpool and the fascinating goings-on at Birkenhead Docks – from the top of St Mary’s Tower. (Well worth climbing the 101 steps to enjoy!) Why not bring a picnic to enjoy in our beautiful grounds after your climb?

We host events, fairs, and performances for the whole family through the year. Check our website for the latest information

www.thebirkenheadpriory.org.

Summer opening hours: Wednesday – Friday 1pm – 5pm Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm

The oldest standing building on Merseyside – a fantastic place for the whole family to discover 850 years of history.

Unrivalled views across the Mersey Stunning grounds offer the perfect place for a picnic!

Guided tours available upon request.

Priory Street, Birkenhead, CH41 5JH Car park at the end of Church Street Thebirkenheadpriory.org 18

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HOME | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Streamlining your home in 2022 THE events of the last two years have made many of us consider what’s important to us and streamline our lives – and the same applies to our homes.

Lockdown has meant more time spent at home which has underlined how we want to improve our lifstyle and just make life simpler and more comfortable.

So, in 2022, there’s the opportunity to carry out plans to make life better and easier - and it begins at home.

For a start, take a look at the space around you. It’s a safe bet that most of us have gathered together far too much stuff, a large proportion of which we just don’t need.

As soon as you start making a space, you’ll feel better about individual rooms and want to streamline more. And keeping on top of it as a lifestyle. ensuring that items are put away, surfaces are clear and re-set and your home always looks fairly tidy, will continue to make you feel better.

Is the EXTERIOR of your home looking sad and in need of a coat of paint? Does guttering need cleaning?

Changing your FRONT DOOR makes a surprising difference to the look of your home. It’s the first thing visitors see so a contemporary, welcoming front door brightens up the whole of the outside.

So now is an excellent time to DE-CLUTTER. Do this a little bit at a time but an easy start is to make a list of 10 things to get rid of from anywhere in your home. Identify a box, basket or area to gather the items you’re getting rid of and gradually add to it.

Don’t let the task overwhelm you; de-cluttering can be spread out so you could do a small amount every day. Just identify the main areas that need de-cluttering.

Have you got duplicate items in your kitchen, for example?

This is a good place to start and you definitely don’t need two of everything, from mixing bowls to kitchen utensils. Keep your favourites and get rid of the rest.

Make three separate piles: items you could take to a local charity shop, those for recycling and rubbish for throwing out.

Clear off surfaces and make spaces on countertops, tables and other furniture where books and clutter mysteriously gather, cleaning as you go. Decide what is really essential and put away items in drawers and cupboards.

Check out paperwork, get it up to date and shred and throw out into the recycling what you don’t need anymore.

Go through your clothes and anything you’ve not worn for more than two years either goes on ebay, the charity shop, recycling or the bin.

Take a long, hard look at your FURNITURE. Do you have items that are simply cluttering up space unnecessarily? Charities like Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation take furniture to sell on for funds so your de-cluttering can help someone in need.

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Ensure your HALLWAY continues the warm welcome. If it’s looking gloomy, it could be a combination of lack of light and dark flooring and walls.

Invest in good lighting and paint the walls a lighter shade, complemented by flooring that is both practical and attractive.

De-cluttering should also happen here. It’s very easy to have boots and coats getting in the way in the hallway. Either find somewhere else handy for them or invest in a cupboard or other storage area to get them out of sight.

Re-arrange your FURNITURE as this can make a huge difference to your living area and can simplify the overall look of your living room.You’ll also be surprised at the space you now have which can make relaxing time so much better.

New FLOORING can change the look of a room. If you’re lucky enough to have good floorboards, invest in a sander and then varnish them afterwards. Add some sumptuous rugs and you’ve got a cosy, glowing room.

Or, take a look at the latest carpets and flooring and choose a type to suit the area you want.Your local carpet retailer is a wealth of knowledge so explain your needs and they will offer plenty of ideas.

Better LIGHTING can transform any area. There are all kinds of lights available now that can brighten up a dark area and offer you extra space.

LED light bulbs can both help with the bills and add that modern glow, not to mention being better for the planet.

Changing SOFT FURNISHINGS can also alter a room and doesn’t need to cost a fortune. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, or know someone who is, go to mill shops or outlets and buy enough material for matching curtains and cushion covers – even the odd throw.

This new colour scheme can liven up the most traditional room and help make it a lovely place in which to spend time.

RE-DECORATE walls and either change or cheer up the paintwork. Even a fresh coat of white gloss can make rooms gleam and change the whole aspect of a living space. Consider the latest wallpaper, too, to add a modern twist to your room even if you can’t afford new furniture.

And while we’re on the subject of “going green”, PLANTS around the home – whether they’re hanging plants or in wellplaced pots – add a natural look to any area. They’re also a goodvalue way of improving any room.

While energy bills are obviously in the news and could be a problem this Winter, it’s still worth planning on all the ways to insulate your home and help cut the bills.

Making your WINDOWS, DOORS and CONSERVATORY more energy-efficient not only makes them cosier and weatherresistant all year round but is also more cost-effective.

Consider double or even triple glazing to reduce draughts, cut down on external noise and lessen any build-up of condensation.

This is also a good time to think about always turning off lights and heaters we don’t need, using the tumble dryer less and buying energy-efficient items like kettles.

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FOOD

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Matt Tebbutt is used to spending his Saturdays cooking - as the host of BBC TV’s Saturday Kitchen, he’s never short of a fast meal idea or a meal for guests that will impress. Here he shares some of those recipes with us.

KING SCALLOPS WITH PICKLED GIROLLES AND SEAWEED BUTTER SERVES 2 100ml (3½fl oz) water 100ml (3½fl oz) malt vinegar 150g (5½oz) girolle or chanterelle mushrooms, brushed clean 4 tbsp olive oil 2 fresh corn on the cob, kernels removed 2 spring onions (scallions), chopped 6 fat king (sea) scallops with roe Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the seaweed butter 100g (3½oz) unsalted butter, softened and kept at room temperature 1–2 tbsp dried seaweed, such as nori or dulse, crumbled 1 heaped tbsp white miso paste

This makes a special starter, ideally around late summer when both sweetcorn (corn) and girolles are in season. Don’t be put off by the thought of seaweed butter. It’s there to supercharge the taste of the scallops by adding another layer of that all-important savoury umami flavour.

METHOD You can make the seaweed butter in advance: put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

butter. (Leftover butter will keep in the fridge for 3–5 days or wrapped in the freezer for 3 months).

Bring the water and vinegar to the boil in a saucepan over a high heat and bubble until the liquid is reduced by half, 2-3 minutes.

Take off the heat, add the mushrooms and set aside to marinate for 1 hour.

Season the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat a dry frying pan (skillet) over a high heat until smoking hot, then add the remaining oil and the seasoned scallops. Cook on one side until golden brown (no more than 2 minutes), carefully turn the scallops over and remove the pan from the heat, allowing the scallops to rest in the pan.

Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a pan over a high heat and, when hot, add the corn kernels and cook, stirring, until soft (no more than 1-2 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat and add the spring onions (scallions) and 1-2 tablespoons of the seaweed

Spoon the cooked corn and spring onions into a serving dish, scatter over the marinated mushrooms, then top with the scallops. I like to drizzle the scallops with some melted seaweed butter before serving, if using, before adding the bun lid.

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ROAST BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH PANCETTA AND GRUYÈRE AND PARMESAN CREAM A rather decadent way to dress up a butternut squash. Bacon or pancetta and cheese seem to be regulars in my recipes, and I’m unapologetic on this point – they do make everything taste better!

SERVES 2 2 tbsp olive oil 4 slices of pancetta 1 butternut squash, peeled and sliced into 3-5cm (1-2in) thick pieces 1 rosemary sprig 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 300ml (10½fl oz) double (heavy) cream 100g (3½oz) Parmesan, grated

100g (3½oz) Gruyère cheese, grated Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the kale vinaigrette 50g (1¾oz) kale, trimmed and very finely chopped 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 3 tbsp olive oil 1 banana shallot, sliced into thin rounds

METHOD Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat and cook the pancetta for a few minutes to release the fat. Remove the pancetta from the pan and set aside. Add the squash, rosemary and garlic, to the pan with the pancetta fat, season with salt and pepper and cook for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time to make sure it’s not sticking. Set aside and keep warm.

Bring the cream to the boil in a pan, then immediately remove from the heat and whisk in both cheeses until melted and thickened. Keep warm.

For the kale vinaigrette, using your hands, scrunch the chopped kale with the red wine vinegar in a bowl. Leave for 5 minutes to soften, then add the olive oil and shallot and a pinch of salt and black pepper.

When you’re ready to serve, pour some of the Gruyère and Parmesan cream into each bowl, spoon in some squash and garnish with the kale vinaigrette, with the pancetta crumbled over in shards.

or email: help@aamail.org

FOOD

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Cooking this highly prized fish whole makes for a real celebration dish, and it looks great served in the centre of the table ready for sharing. With its firm white flesh, sea bass is also the perfect fish to roast with fragrant lemon thyme.

ROAST BASS WITH FENNEL AND LEMON THYME SERVES 2 1 x whole sea bass, minimum 1kg (2lb 4oz), cleaned, scaled and gutted 2 tbsp olive oil 500g (1lb 2oz) potatoes, peeled (use a waxy variety) 4 whole garlic cloves 1 bunch of lemon thyme 2 bay leaves 1 lemon, sliced 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and cut into 8-12 pieces 3 tbsp small capers, drained 3½ tbsp olive oil 150ml (5fl oz) dry white wine Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the salad 1 red chicory (endive), leaves separated 1 yellow chicory (endive), leaves separated Large handful of watercress Extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lemon

METHOD Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/gas mark 7.

Pat the fish dry with paper towels and use the tip of a sharp knife to crisscross the flesh at regular intervals on both sides. Season the bass with sea salt and rub with the olive oil.

and drizzle the whole dish with the olive oil. Pour in the wine and scatter over the rest of the lemon thyme and the remaining lemon slices. Roast for 25–30 minutes until cooked through.

The fish is cooked when the flesh easily pulls away from the bone when tested with the tip of a sharp knife.

Put the potatoes and the garlic into a large pan of cold salted water over a high heat and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and simmer until the potatoes are just tender when tested with the tip of a sharp knife. Drain and, when cool enough to handle, cut into 1cm (½in) thick slices. Reserve the garlic cloves.

For the salad, in a large bowl, combine the two types of chicory leaves and the watercress. Dress with the extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.

Stuff the cavity of the fish with half the lemon thyme, the bay leaves and a few lemon slices.

Arrange the sliced potatoes and fennel in the base of a baking tray with the reserved garlic cloves and the capers. Lay the fish on top

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Arrange the roasted potatoes, fennel and lemon slices on a warmed serving platter. Carefully lift the flesh from the bone and lay it over the potatoes. Grind over some black pepper and serve with any cooking juices from the baking tray, with the chicory salad alongside.

BABY PINEAPPLES WITH FROZEN GREEK YOGHURT Quite a dessert this one, an interesting combination of sweet sticky caramel, juicy warm pineapple, spicy ginger and hot chilli.

I absolutely love it, and looks great as a centrepiece.

SERVES 4 For the frozen Greek yoghurt 400g (14oz) full-fat thick Greek yoghurt 40g (1½oz) caster (superfine) sugar Juice of 1 lime 6 mint leaves, thinly sliced For the roasted baby pineapples 400g (14oz) caster (superfine) sugar 200ml (7fl oz) dark rum 1 star anise 2 x 5cm (2in) cinnamon sticks 2 vanilla pods (vanilla beans), split and seeds removed, reserve the pods 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped 4cm (1½in) piece root ginger, peeled and grated 4 lime leaves, thinly sliced Juice of 2 limes 4 baby pineapples, peeled and cored, tops reserved

METHOD For the frozen Greek yoghurt, put the yoghurt in a large mixing bowl with the sugar and lime juice and whisk thoroughly. Fold through the mint leaves.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream machine and churn, following the manufacturer’s instructions, until smooth. Transfer to a sealed container and put in the freezer for a good 3 hours, until solid.

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/320°F/gas mark 3.

Heat a medium sauté pan over a medium heat. Sprinkle the sugar over the base of the pan and cook until a caramel is formed, gently tipping the pan carefully from side to side as the sugar cooks, but do not stir. The caramel is ready when the surface has a uniform golden colour.

Carefully add the dark rum, wearing oven gloves to protect your hands, as the mixture might spit. Add the star anise, cinnamon sticks, vanilla seeds and reserved pods, chilli, ginger, lime

leaves and lime juice. At this stage, you can stir the caramel and flavourings together using a wooden spoon.

Place the pineapples in a small roasting dish and pour over the warm caramel. Cover the pineapples with foil and cook for about 1 hour, basting the pineapples with the caramel several times as they cook. They are ready when you can push a metal skewer into the centre without much resistance.

Remove the pineapples from the oven. Place the reserved green tops back on top of each pineapple and serve with the frozen Greek yoghurt.

WEEKEND: Eating at Home: From Long Lazy Lunches to Fast Family Fixes by Matt Tebbutt (Quadrille, £22).

Photography: Matt Russell.

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GARDEN | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Preparing your garden for Spring Planning is the key to success in the spring garden says garden writer Julia Heaton.

Sunshine days of summer may seem an age away but spring certainly isn’t. So now is the ideal time to get some basic jobs out of the way in preparation for the new season and the pruning, planting and seed sowing ahead. Here are some of my essential tips to give you that all important head-start.

Get to grips with tools If you didn’t clean your hand tools (rakes, spades, trowels) properly on their last outing go ahead and remove any remnants of soil from the heads using a bristle brush. Leave them to soak in a mix of water and 10 per cent bleach for around half an hour, then dry them off and wipe down with an oily rag before storing.

snails emerging from hibernation and eggs preparing to hatch.

Look for groups of tiny yellow and white eggs in sheltered places like underneath stones, shrubs or in the crown of perennial plants. Then leave them unprotected in the sunlight so that other wildlife can feed on them.

Beer traps are one of the many options for dealing with the adults.You could also create some dark, damp, places where they’ll love to hide out during the day – then all you need do is collect them. There are also deterrents like crushed egg shells, copper tape and coffee grounds. Consider also introducing plants that slugs avoid like agapanthus and Dicentra spectabilis.

As well as cleaning in water and detergent any bladed tools – like pruning knives, secateurs and garden shears – will benefit from sharpening and oiling so they provide nice clean cuts and stop the risk of spreading disease between plants. This will also make your tools easier to use and ensure they last, saving you money in the long term.

There’s also garden machinery, like the lawnmower, to check over. The latter needs to be in good working order and safe so make sure electric cables aren’t worn or chafed and that blades are clean and sharp. If you have a petrol mower it’s a good idea to drain any fuel off as it will have deteriorated during the cold winter weather.

Remove slugs and snails Don’t wait for pests to make a meal of your perennials. As temperatures in the ground start to rise hunt down slugs and 26

Test the soil Once you’ve done a soil test you’ll know which plants will and won’t flourish in your garden. Tests from garden centres will tell you the pH level of the soil (whether alkaline, neutral or acid) so you can adjust it accordingly and make a more informed decision about what to grow.

Deal with weeds Annual weeds, like meadow grass and groundsel, are easy enough to pull-up but perennial weeds, such as couch grass, bindweed and dandelions, need careful handling. There are different types of weedkiller that you can call upon, depending on the area you want to treat. In densely planted borders though it’s probably better to do the job by hand. Just ensure that you remove as much of the root as possible, so there’s no chance of them resprouting.

Feed beds and borders Add some nutrients, by way of a general fertiliser, to mixed borders of trees, perennials, bulbs and shrubs. General fertilisers come in various forms including granular. This just requires sprinkling evenly throughout the border, according to the instructions on the box, and forking in. The latter is important as concentrations of fertiliser lying against plants can burn them.

Go ahead and mulch Once you’ve weeded and fed borders add a mulch. This is a layer of well-rotted garden compost, mushroom compost, bark or bagged soil improver and is one of the best things you can do for your plants. When spread an inch or more thick on the soil surface it acts like a barrier, depriving weeds of the light they need to germinate and trapping moisture so that plants have plenty to call upon when temperatures rise. All you need to do is leave nature to take its course as it rots down, improving structure and providing nutrients.

Give pots a dressing Container plants can’t always be repotted. If you’ve got a shrub, fruit tree or perennial growing in compost that’s a year old or more then a layer of fresh compost will be beneficial. Scrape away an inch or so of the old compost from the surface and replace with fresh. Plant roots will soon feel the benefit as creatures and microbes gradually integrate old with new.

Remember also to check glass for any damage and replace panes if necessary.

Clean fencing and paths If your patio or paths are regularly in the shade then it can lead to a build-up of moss and green algae during winter, making it slippery and unsightly. If it’s not too bad then soapy water and a brush should do the job. Otherwise use a patio, path cleaner or pressure washer to despatch it. There are also specialist cleaners for wooden decking.

Check out fencing and other wooden structures like gates and pergolas and deal with any rot or winter damage. A power washer will help remove any dirt, moss or mildew and when completely dry freshen up with a couple of coats of wood preservative or paint.

Install a water butt If you haven’t already got a water butt it’s worth installing one in the long run. Use a diverter kit to siphon off rainwater from a downpipe on the side of your house. Harvesting rainfall is environmentally friendly and rain water is the better than tap water for plants. Ericaceous types, like camellias, particularly benefit as tap water is often more alkaline. Just as importantly, installing a few butts is good for your water bill too.

Go shopping Finally, take a quick inventory of what’s already in the shed and what you’ll be needing. Everything from compost and seeds down to pots and feed. This is also an ideal time to plan the summer-flowering bulbs you’ll want to plant in early spring.

Having a proper shopping list will help you focus on exactly what you want to accomplish this year.

Clean out shed and greenhouse Sweep down floors and surfaces. Tools in the shed should be hung so that you can get to them easily. The less clutter on the floor the better.

Wash down greenhouse windows inside and out with disinfectant. This will ensure that plants get enough light and also destroy any potential homes for pests and diseases to lurk in. Make sure all pots and seed trays from last year are clean too.

Then leave the door and windows open to help the space dry off.

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The situation

Frank was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago, which was a shock to him and his wife Barbara, as they thought Frank’s increasing memory loss was just part of getting older.

Not long after Frank’s diagnosis, the couples’ lifestyle changed radically. Barbara, who works full time, now has to help Frank dress, and prepare his breakfast, flask and lunch before she leaves for work as he is unable to do this himself.

Frank, a keen gardener, who was used to living healthily and independently, has had to give up driving and many of his DIY and outdoor activities. However, he was still really keen to continue his daily walk with his dog, Max.

The Progress Lifeline solution

Barbara and Frank have been given a mobile Lifeline device called the ‘Footprint’. This is a small fob worn around the neck, and can be used inside and outside the home to provide reassurance and safety whilst still allowing independence and freedom.

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The Footprint features a one-press SOS button, as well as automatic falls detection and GPS tracking for instant location in case of emergency.

Pressing the SOS button just once contacts Progress Lifeline’s 24-hour Alarm Response Centre. Operators who can speak with you via the two-way speech system located inside the fob, will call your family or the emergency services if you need help. The GPS tracker enables us to find you if you are lost.

Customer feedback

Barbara says, “Before we had the Footprint, Frank fell while walking our dog, Max, down by the river. He was confused and hurt and he was lucky that someone came to help him. The fall knocked his confidence, and he was reluctant to take Max for walks for a while in case he fell again. The Footprint would have helped him immensely in this circumstance”.

“Now we’ve got the Footprint, Frank tucks the fob into his jumper so people can’t identify him as vulnerable. He says that he feels more confident when he is out walking Bobby as he knows if he falls he can just press the button for help”.

Please note, names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

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Buy online now at www.progresslifeline.org.uk or call us on 03333 204 999 29

HEALTH

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT BUT CHANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY Be your own friend and praise yourself. Whilst it is important to enjoy non-toxic, supportive relationships with your partner, friends, colleagues and family, having your own strong inner support system is important during times of change. Talk to yourself in the same way you would speak to and coach a friend.

Dismiss constant negative internal chatter and replace it with gratitude and an occasional self-pat on the back for trying your best.

Fail well. Some say reach for the stars and push yourself over and beyond. Others advise you to have reasonable, achievable expectations to avoid deep disappointment. Either way learn that its ok to fail and learn how to fail well by picking yourself up and trying again using different tactics.

By Dr Lynda Shaw, neuroscientist, business psychologist and change specialist.

Changes like a relationship breakdown, redundancy or serious illness can generate stress, fear and seriously impact your wellbeing. Your first feelings may be of shock, anger, or anxiety, or it may trigger ‘flight or fight’ reactions, but change is an opportunity to embrace and grow beyond what feels comfortable, build resilience and experience new things that we might otherwise never have done. Change is going to happen whether you like it or not, so it is not enough to just survive change, we need to use it to thrive. Here are some tips on how to embrace big changes in your life: Challenge yourself. Are you approaching it with a ‘can’t do’ fixed mindset? We are inclined to choose options with a familiar and known outcome. Push yourself to consider other options and do your research. Avoid having a narrowing or shrinking fixed mindset, aim for a growth mindset. The brain is fantastically adaptable, and the chances are you can do it. It’s an opportunity to move into your learning zone. Be nimble.

Control your emotions, so they don’t control you. It is completely fine to feel emotions like anger, anxiety, fear or sadness and it is important to sometimes just sit with those emotions. But your mood can influence your decisions and interactions so there is also a point when you should acknowledge them and try to move past them.

A positive mindset can be the deal breaker between you doing something or not. The outcomes are predictably in favour of someone who is often positive rather than someone who is usually negative. Being positive and facing change is the best way to learn and move on.

Take your time. Demands for change can trigger our fight or flight instincts, cause stress and debilitate our decision making.

Follow your gut feel is not just a metaphor; our brain and gut are connected by an extensive network of neurons and are in constant communication. It’s harder though to make good decisions when stressed as we are less reflective and more impulsive. Try to take a little time to make hard decisions so allow yourself time to reflect before you respond and to summon your strength in case it is needed.

Are you stuck in making familiar, habitual choices?

Doing something unfamiliar and unhabitual can be harder and time consuming but helps you to make new important neural connections. Taking a leap of faith can feel scary so we often delay starting or we convince ourselves that we don’t have the knowledge, money, etc. to pull it off. Try to just take a first step and choose your most productive time of day to do it. A first step may just lead to a life-changing path for the better.

Schedule in creative/ innovative time. This way you have the space to think, and reassess what is your calling, what are your passions, what you need and what is important to you. We need time and space to create lightbulb moments.

Good health is crucial to giving you strength. Make sure you are sleeping enough and eating well. Obstacles can seem insurmountable when you are overtired and you will feel less motivated, have trouble concentrating and be less productive.

Watch out for feeling overwhelmed by stress during times of change. Stress alters practically every part of our body including brain functions such as memory and cognitive ability. In times of change and stress, allocate time for stress combating exercise such as yoga, meditation, walking, or going to the gym. There is also nothing better than some down time in a nice bath, listening to your favourite soothing music or just having a cuddle with someone you love. www.drlyndashaw.com

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SOUTH LANCASHIRE BREAST SCREENING Saves lives through detecting cancer early Don’t forget breast screening because we haven’t forgotten you!

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South Lancashire is your Local Breast Screening Service

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